UCF makes history at the Fiesta Bowl!

The text message came midway through the third quarter of UCF’s historic, euphoric Fiesta Bowl victory over Baylor on New Year’s night.

Former Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy was obviously enthralled.

“You watching UCF?” Van Gundy texted excitedly. “Wow, what a game.”

You can say that again.

Wow, what a game!

What a year!

What a team!

Van Gundy has no particular allegiance to UCF other than he is a sports fan in Central Florida, but he symbolizes what these Knights have done. They have done the impossible. They have, at long last turned Florida into a UCF state.

What do I mean by that? I mean that I know a ton of Gator fans who were loudly rooting for UCF against Baylor. I know many FSU fans who were proudly rooting for UCF. And, most importantly of all, I know thousands and thousands of UCF fans who are finally rooting for UCF.

“What a great season,” South Carolina coach and University of Florida icon Steve Spurrier said a few days ago. “Congratulations to UCF!”

“I love it, and I was rooting for them,” Florida State wide receiver and Dr. Phillips High product Kenny Shaw said in one of media sessions earlier this week at the BCS National Championship Game. “This is big for UCF.”